We’ve officially entered an exciting time of year at the Better Business Bureau. The office is a buzz over Integrity Counts! Each year we go through the process of accepting nominations for outstanding businesses to be recognized with the Integrity Counts! award. More than 100 companies were nominated; nearly 40 of the nominees invested the time and resources to create an in-depth assessment of how they build integrity into their business everyday. Then, the judging begins. Judges volunteer countless hours, pouring over the applications to choose one company in each of the five categories.
Judging wrapped up last week, and today I had the honor of notifying two businesses. I walked into the Automotive Clinic in Twin Falls, recognized the owner from his picture in the application, and introduced myself. As soon as I said, “I’m with your Better Business Bureau,” he said, “Oh no, what did I do?” Not exactly the reaction we hope for, but it is common. The reaction provides a great opportunity to tell our story. In this case, I got to say, “I’m here because you’re doing something right.”
Integrity Counts! is what the BBB is all about: Celebrating great businesses going above and beyond in acting with integrity. When you and I can walk into a business and know that business is built on the principles of honesty, transparency, responsiveness and integrity, it gives us great peace of mind and builds a trust relationship between the customer and company. The BBB lays the foundation for that trust relationship through a set of standards that are relevant to all types of business.
Now, more than ever, the trust relationship is key to business success. Consumers have so many buying choices and so many options to find products and services, the shopping process can get a bit daunting. Trustworthy businesses survive the economic ups-and-downs because they have a strong, dependable customer base. Trust is a win-win proposition for businesses and consumers.
Remember, if you’re building trust with customers, having the BBB visit your business is a good thing!